She led them towards the woods, and into a path. After several minutes of walking they reached a large wooden house.
"Enter." She told them and opened the door. They found themselves in a traditionally decorated room. The floor was covered with carpets in tribal patterns, the wall decorated with feathered ornaments.
"Sit down so we may talk." She told them. Fili wrapped his arms around Kili and they sat closely together. Three eldest men also took seats, but the other stayed along the wall at the back.
"My name is Silaluk and I'm the shaman of our tribe." She told them calmly. "This is Sivoy, our chief, Ila his son and heir, and his son Irniq was the one who led you here."
"This is Appata our eldest elder." She introduced the other older man sitting on the chair.
"My name is Fili, and I'm the heir of the Khuzdul tribe from Erebor. This is Nori one of my wolf cousins. The tall man is Beorn, he's from the Carrock tribe. The vampire next to me is my soul mate Kili, and the second vampire is his friend Bofur." Fili calmly introduced them.
"By heir do you mean you are son of the chief?" The elder asked surprised.
"No, our hierarchy is a bit different. My blond hair makes me the next pack leader." Fili explained.
"Pack leader? So is that coloring natural in your tribe?" The old woman asked surprised.
"Yes it is, but it's very rare. I'm the third person born like this in the last two hundred years. The previous being my late father." Fili explained. "Many of our clan members have strange colorings."
"Why have you come here?" The woman asked with narrow eyes and a strange look.
"We heard there was another bear tribe in this area and we set out to find them." Fili explained.
"Why would you do that?" She asked coldly.
"To warn them of the danger. Wild vampires have been wiping out all tribes with shifting abilities." Fili explained.
"We have already lost our fighters, back sixty years ago." The woman explained. "I have seen such transformations, but in my childhood. The last great white bear was the great grandfather, who died at the age of nearly two hundred."
"But your tribe is secluded your bloodline should be strong." Fili noticed.
"We do not know why the Gods took away our warriors, leaving us defenseless." Sivoy told them. "There hasn't been a bear born in the last century, the last bear died in childhood."
"We thought we were the only ones with such abilities." The old woman added.
"What happened eight years ago?" Kili asked speaking for the first time.
"We were attacked by a group of vampires. Using our secret weapon we killed them all, but we suffered a great loss." She told them gloomily. "Nanouk and Pakak had been turned vampire during the attack giving them extra power to defeat our foe."
"Did you kill all of them?" Fili asked.
"Yes. None made it out alive. According to the old codes we burnt the bodies." Sivoy explained.
"So it's not the same group that attacked our tribe." Nori noticed.
"What happened?" Sivoy asked slowly.
"Beorn's tribe had been killed near Christmas, and we were attacked by the same group in spring. Kili's coven killed them later." Fili explained.
"Why would a coven kill other vampires?" Irniq asked curiously.
"They did not obey our law. Our coven does not kill or turn people." Kili told him seriously. "We do not take human slaves."
"How do you manage to survive without blood? How can you withstand the bloodlust?" Nanouk, one of their vampires, asked in amazement.
"Centuries of training. We live on the blood willingly given, or on donor blood. It's possible to learn to bite without turning." Kili explained in a low voice.
"What is the weapon you used against them, and why didn't it hurt your vampires?" Beorn asked noticing the strange event.
"It's called the Stone of Vision. It's an artifact passed on from ancient times in my family. My ancestors have always been shamans, and this stone was treated as a token. But when it's true use was proven, I have always kept it with me." The old woman explained. "They have a special blessings." She told them with a grin.
"Has your tribe always had the ability to transform?" Sivoy asked looking at them carefully.
"Yes. Our eldest wolves are over six hundred years old. New wolf are born with every generation, so our pack is quite large." Fili told them carefully choosing his words.
"You were blessed with strength we have been deprived of. In the legends of our tribe many men could take the form of beats, great black bears." The woman told them.
"Not polar bears?" Kili realized.
The native Americans looked at him clearly very surprised.
"No, why?" Irniq asked.
"We were searching for a tribe with polar bears, not black bears." Fili told them slowly.
"So that means there should be one more tribe in Alaska." Beorn noticed sternly.
"And we visited the wrong tribe." Nori added.
"No, we visited the right tribe." Fili told them seriously.
"Why are you searching? What's your goal?" The woman asked suspiciously.
"We have a way to defeat the one who is sending out the wild vampires, but we fear we are not strong enough. Even with our vampire allies, and our wolf pack." Fili slowly told them. "We have an enemy, who fears we will become stronger than him. That's why he keeps sending out his troops to eliminate all possible shape shifting tribes."
"He's a man with red eyes." The woman told him slowly. "I have seen him in my visions."
"He's a vampire." Kili told her.
"Yes, but he's old and pure evil. The most evil one of them all." She added. "I wonder why he's so scared, it's not like we were seeking him out and provoking him."
"I've heard there is a prophecy about his downfall, and that the great spirit beasts would fight against him." Kili added slowly.
"So you came here to seek allies." Sivoy noticed. "And you've found them. To have revenge for my fallen kin I offer you whatever help we may give." He spoke solemnly.
"Thank you!" Fili felt surprised the calm man would make such a declaration so easily.
"I have seen my parents die, I have seen my uncles die. Only two people from my family survived, me included." He told them. "Sixty years ago it was a bloodbath, full of gore and tears. Our last bears died and we were left in despair. Eight years ago we were prepared better. Not having our warriors meant we were at a disadvantage, but we have knowledge, skills and our secret weapon." He began explaining. "Now I believe fate brought you here, to give us a chance to take revenge."
"I will consult the spirits tonight." The woman spoke coldly. "And if they say you come in good intentions and your mission will in fact bring the downfall of our enemy, I will personally see it done."
Irniq guided them back to town in silence. He was glaring at them surprised with events but he seemed lost in his thoughts.